Opening the Kimono on Self Expression

When I was 12, I lived in a commune.  One of our housemates was a woman who held a black belt in karate and gave us self-defense lessons.  Back then her name was Pat, but she later changed it to Banshee and appeared on the cover of Ms. Magazine in her role as a bodyguard for a sheik.

She once took me to a karate demonstration at a local university.  Students, or karatekas, from several different schools were performing their particular styles of karate.  One school, or dojo, had a woman as a member of their otherwise all-male dojo.  They worked through their first kata, or routine, and I couldn't take my eyes off this woman.  She was very slight in contrast to her much larger classmates.  Her movements matched those of the men perfectly.  At the end of the routine, she came to the front of the group and spoke to the audience.

"I am the only woman in this dojo.  When I first began to practice here, the men would take off their uwagis, the top part of the karate uniform, and work the katas barechested.  Because I am a woman, I have never been allowed to do this in the dojo.  Today, outside of the dojo, our roles will be reversed." 

So saying, she stripped off her top, laid it aside, and barechested, went back to her position among the fully clothed men.  Together, they performed the next kata flawlessly. 

I watched with my mouth hanging open.  I was awed by her courage.  I was awed by the statement she was making on behalf of all women.   I wanted to be as free and confident in myself as she was. 

All these years later, the telling of this story still brings tears to my eyes. It is my goal to be as brave as that woman was in every moment of my life. 

Are you expressing yourself fully in this moment?  In this life? If not, when will you start?